What Parents Should Know About Diastema: Causes And Treatments
If you see gaps in your children’s teeth, then there’s a good chance that they might be dealing with a dental condition known as Diastema. These gaps often occur between the two front teeth in the upper jaw.
According to a recent report, nearly 98% of 6-year-old children have midline diastema. However, after the arrival of permanent teeth, the percentage of Diastema in 10 to 12-year-old kids decreases to about 49%. And only 7% of teenagers are currently dealing with midline diastema.
The gap usually cures itself after your children’s canines, and incisors have fully erupted. But it is a matter of concern if it doesn’t.
So, if you are also concerned about those gaps in your children’s teeth, here’s everything you need to know about the condition. Once you’ve learned about the causes and treatments, you can help your children smile confidently.
- Causes of Diastema in kids
Here we have listed some of the prominent causes of Diastema in kids.
- Natural Development: There are times when children have mismatched teeth and jaws. For instance, your children are more likely to experience gaps in their teeth if they have small teeth and large jaws. It acts as an extra room for teeth and allows them to shift around.
- Bad oral habits: Diastema is mostly found in kids who used to have bad oral habits such as thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting. These habits contribute to expanding the gaps between teeth.
- Frenum issues: Your children might have gaps in their teeth if they have frenum issues. Medically speaking, it is a small tissue strip that connects the upper lip to the gum tissue, between the upper front teeth. In simple words, if the frenulum in your kids is too large, it will keep their teeth apart, which will cause gaps.
- Treatment that can help deal with Diastema
Dental problems are indeed frustrating. But thanks to the evolution in medical science, you can deal with them seamlessly. Here we have listed some treatments to help your kids deal with the gaps in their teeth.
- Dental implants: If in case the cause of Diastema in your kids is missing teeth, then bridging the gap needs more extensive dental work known as implants. The dental experts will help in placing the implants into your child’s jawbone with the help of metal screws. The experts at a dental implants denver clinic confirms the fact that, unlike bridges and dentures, implants are much more effective and provide long-term solutions.
- Braces: Dental experts recommend using braces to deal with Diastema in kids for minor gaps in teeth. The braces help in putting pressure on your children’s teeth which will eventually close the gaps. You kids might even have to wear a full set of braces just because of one gap. This is because the movement of one tooth can affect the entire alignment of the set.
- Bonding or veneers: If your kids aren’t comfortable in getting braces, you can also request the dentist to fit veneers or perform dental bonding to close the gaps. This is the best solution for kids who have smaller teeth. The procedure involves applying resin to the teeth’ surface and hardening it with a light source.
- Surgery: Lastly, if Diastema in your kids is because of an oversized labial frenum, they might have to undergo frenectomy. The experts will help in removing the excess tissue.
In conclusion
Diastema or gaps in your children’s teeth might end up making your kids conscious about their smiles. So, use the treatment choices mentioned above to help them deal with the condition.
